A SHORT SYNOPSIS OF "GREENFINGERS"
The beauty and delicacy of a flower
seem a sharp contrast to the rough exterior of
a prison inmate. Yet these two images are exactly
what writer/director Joel Hershman brings together
in "Greenfingers," a story of redemption that
not only tickles the funny bone, but touches the
soul.
Paula Deitz’s 1998 New York Times article "Free To Grow Bluebells
In England," focusing on the real-life gardening
exploits of British prisoners, serves as the inspiration
for this fictional tale about finding beauty in
the most unlikely of places.
When we first meet Colin Briggs (Clive Owen) he is a man who has
given up on life. Nearing the end of a long sentence,
Colin is transferred to the minimum security HMP
Edgefield, an open prison in the Cotswolds. While
at Edgefield, Colin meets Fergus Wilks (David
Kelly), an eccentric ‘lifer’ who has come to terms
with the fact that he will live out his remaining
days within the confines of the prison. When Colin
receives an unwanted packet of seeds as a Christmas
present from Fergus, he begrudgingly plants them
in Edgefield’s hard, infertile soil. Much to both
men's surprise, the seeds flourish and, by Spring,
have blossomed, along with the two men’s friendship.
The prison Governor, impressed by the sight of
the beautiful double violets, commissions Colin,
Fergus, and three other inmates to cultivate Edgefield’s
first garden.
The inmates’ garden attracts the attention and praise of flamboyant
gardening expert Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren).
Georgina is so taken with the men's unconventional
gardening style and unexpected results that she
goes before the Royal Horticultural Society, stating:
"These are the most brilliant and talented prisoners
you'll ever meet. I wish to sponsor them in their
first show garden at Hampton Court."
With plants and flowers thriving under the nurturing touch of
his ‘greenfingers,’ Colin begins to gain a new
lease on life. As his skill in the garden grows,
so too does his love for Georgina's daughter Primrose
(Natasha Little). After countless years behind
bars, Colin is finally granted parole only to
risk both his freedom and his love for one shot
at the unthinkable: the chance to compete against
England's gardening elite at the Hampton Court
Palace Flower Show…the largest outdoor garden
event in the world.